File:American homes and gardens (1907) (18156926905).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesga41907newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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340 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS September, 1907
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Curtains and Draperies By Delia Austrian ^HEN glass and brocades cover the windows ^'^^W^^^^M, '-'^^y deprive a room of sunlight; but if the ^^x^w%^^w '"'^^"^ without curtains the sunshine is often so strong as to fade the carpet and ^^^y^i^^^^ furniture. To curtain wisely is between I^^^^^O^^^ these extremes; the tendency to-day is to have the curtain simple. In early days cur- tains were often elaborate, and the draping of them no easy matter. Early inventions of household furnishings were scarce, but curtains were among the earliest kind of decorations. The Renaissance and the expedition of Charles VIII into Italy made them more general. The looms of Holland, England, and France were kept busy weaving materials for furniture coverings and draperies. 1 apestries decorated the walls and the window curtains were kept in harmony. During the reign of Louis XII, the materials most com- monly used were tapestry, brocades, and velvets. These heavy hangings were often trimmed with braid, lace, and fringes. The reign of Louis XIV gave more elaborate deco- rations to France. The furniture was exceedingly elaborate, and the cornices for the curtains were made to harmonize. The windows were long and consisted of square panes in a long sash. Outside the window there was usually only one railing. The window was usually decorated with one cornice; this was sometimes simple, but more often it was carved elaborately. These cornices were either enameled white or gilded to match the panels and doors, and were ably designed. The window-curtains were just as important as the drap- ings. Those curtains next to the panels were white, made of laces, embroideries, and India muslin. Over these were hung handsome draperies of velvet and silk, often embroid- ered exquisitely and folded with care. In one beautiful suite of the eighteenth century, the room was furnished in jonquil- colored Lyons brocade embroidered with silver flowers. The portieres were of jonquil taffeta trimmed at the top with silver lace or braid, while the bottom was ornamented with silver fringe. The portieres were of brocade similarly trimmed. The Persian pattern was also exceedingly popular at this time; a sort of figured chintz of white background decorated with flowers and birds. The curtains of Madame de Pompa- dour were always elaborate and of Oriental pattern, painted with little figures of Chinese images. In the reign of Louis XVI, green and yellow taffetas were the prevailing style; these curtains were usually wadded and heavily lined to give a stiff appearance. The favorite design in the time of Marie Antoinette was the winding ribbon alternating with a straight stripe and sprinkled with delicate flowers. The Directoire banished all elaborate trimmings; the key- note of the time was simplicity. The cornice and heavy drapery were abolished, and their place was given to a thin pole and a light silk curtain. Although the Empire restored the gilded cornice and the silk curtain, neither ever regained

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